A painful hip can make small decisions feel disproportionately difficult. You may be weighing up whether to keep managing symptoms, try an injection, change your activity, or consider surgery. When searching for the best hip surgeon London has to offer, the most useful question is not simply who has the highest profile. It is whether the surgeon has the focused expertise, judgement and communication style to recommend the right treatment for your hip, your health and the life you want to return to.
Hip surgery is a significant decision, particularly when pain is affecting sleep, work, walking, exercise or independence. A good consultation should replace uncertainty with a clear plan – including an honest discussion of whether surgery is needed now, later, or perhaps not at all.
What “best” should mean when choosing a hip surgeon
There is no single surgeon who is right for every patient. The best choice depends on the diagnosis, the complexity of the problem, previous treatment, general health and personal goals. For someone with straightforward arthritis, the priority may be an experienced surgeon who performs a high volume of primary hip replacements and offers clear rehabilitation guidance. For someone with a painful or failing previous replacement, it may be specialist experience in revision surgery and complex reconstruction that matters most.
Start by looking for concentrated expertise. An orthopaedic consultant whose practice is focused on hip and knee conditions is likely to have detailed familiarity with the decisions that influence joint replacement outcomes: implant selection, fixation, surgical approach, leg length, stability and recovery planning. Fellowship training in hip and knee surgery adds a further period of specialist development beyond standard orthopaedic training.
Credentials matter, but they are only part of the picture. You should also feel able to ask direct questions and receive direct answers. A surgeon should explain what is causing your symptoms, what the scans show, which options are appropriate and why one route is being recommended over another. If the expected benefit is modest or surgery carries particular risks in your circumstances, that should be discussed plainly.
The best hip surgeon in London will assess more than an X-ray
An X-ray can show arthritis, changes around a hip replacement or structural problems in the joint, but it does not tell the whole story. Some people have visible arthritis with manageable symptoms; others have severe pain and stiffness that limits almost every part of daily life. The decision to operate should bring the imaging, physical examination, medical history and your functional goals together.
A careful assessment considers where the pain is felt, how long it has been present, whether it travels into the groin, thigh or buttock, and what makes it worse. It should also distinguish hip pain from problems referred from the lower back, pelvis or knee. This is particularly important when symptoms do not follow a typical pattern, or when prior treatment has not helped.
Your consultation should include a discussion about what you want to regain. That may be walking the dog without stopping, getting in and out of a car comfortably, returning to work, caring for grandchildren or sleeping through the night. These goals shape the treatment conversation and provide a realistic measure of success beyond the appearance of a post-operative X-ray.
Non-surgical treatment should be part of the conversation
Surgery is often highly effective for advanced hip arthritis, but it is not automatically the first or only answer. Depending on the cause and severity of your pain, non-operative treatment may include tailored physiotherapy, activity modification, weight management support where appropriate, medication review or image-guided injections.
Steroid injections can sometimes reduce inflammation and pain for a period, while other treatments may be considered in selected circumstances. Their role varies considerably. An injection is not a cure for advanced joint wear, and repeated injections are not necessarily the right long-term strategy. The value lies in using a treatment for a clear reason: to settle symptoms, help confirm the source of pain, support rehabilitation, or provide time before surgery is appropriate.
An experienced hip specialist should be comfortable advising against an operation when the likely benefit does not justify it. That judgement is as valuable as technical surgical skill.
Questions to ask a hip surgeon before deciding
You do not need medical knowledge to have a useful consultation. The right questions help you understand both the recommendation and the alternatives. Ask what diagnosis is most likely, whether more imaging is needed, and what could happen if you decide not to have surgery at this stage.
If a hip replacement is recommended, ask why it is the preferred option and what type of replacement is suitable for you. It is reasonable to ask about the surgeon’s experience with primary and revision hip replacement, the potential risks in your individual case, expected recovery milestones and the support available after discharge.
You may also want to ask about implant choice. There is no universal “best” implant. The appropriate components depend on bone quality, anatomy, age, activity level, allergy history where relevant, and whether this is a first or revision procedure. Precision-led pre-operative planning helps a surgeon select and position components with the aim of achieving a stable, comfortable and durable result.
Pay attention to how the answers are given. Clear explanations should not feel rushed or overly promotional. You should leave knowing what is known, what remains uncertain, and what the next step involves.
Experience matters even more in complex and revision cases
Revision hip replacement is different from a first-time replacement. It may be needed because an implant has loosened, worn, become unstable, fractured, become infected or caused damage to the surrounding bone. These cases can require more detailed investigation, specialist implants, bone reconstruction and careful planning for potential complications.
Not every hip surgeon manages the same range of complex cases. If you have had previous hip surgery, persistent pain after a replacement, recurrent dislocation or a diagnosis involving bone loss, ask specifically about relevant revision experience. A surgeon should be open about whether your case falls within their specialist practice and whether additional expertise or multidisciplinary input is needed.
This is not about making an already difficult situation more alarming. It is about ensuring that the level of expertise matches the level of complexity. A well-planned revision aims not only to address the mechanical problem, but also to restore confidence in standing, walking and moving without the constant fear that the hip will give way.
Surgical planning and aftercare influence the whole experience
The operation itself is only one part of a successful hip replacement journey. Thorough preparation can reduce avoidable risk and make recovery more manageable. This may include reviewing medications, optimising conditions such as diabetes or anaemia, discussing smoking cessation, arranging support at home and preparing for mobility aids or physiotherapy.
Individual planning also matters in theatre. A surgeon should consider your anatomy, leg length, offset, bone quality and the condition of surrounding soft tissues. In selected cases, advanced planning techniques or custom components may be appropriate. These are not benefits in themselves; they are tools used when they offer a meaningful advantage for the individual patient.
After surgery, you need to know who will guide your recovery and when to seek advice. Pain control, wound care, blood clot prevention, exercises and follow-up appointments should be explained before your operation, not left as an afterthought. Recovery is gradual. Many patients notice meaningful relief from arthritic pain early on, but strength, confidence and stamina take time to rebuild.
Choosing care that feels personal and precise
Private hip care can offer timely access to consultation, investigations and treatment, but speed should never replace considered decision-making. The right surgeon will take the time to understand your symptoms and priorities, explain the available pathways and make a recommendation you can weigh with confidence.
Mr Kam Cheema’s practice is focused exclusively on hip and knee care, from non-operative treatment through to primary, complex and revision joint replacement. That focused approach supports detailed planning and continuity from the first consultation through rehabilitation and follow-up.
The most helpful next step is usually a specialist assessment rather than more online comparison. Bring your previous scans, clinic letters and a note of the activities pain has taken away from you. A good hip consultation should give you something practical: a diagnosis you understand, a treatment plan that fits your circumstances, and a clearer route back towards comfortable movement.